Syracuse government is the best thing to happen to Layton City. Layton residents can thank Syracuse for beautiful Layton parks and street repairs. Why? Because the Syracuse City council voted 3-2 last week to continue its prohibition of beer sales, limiting their local economy and boosting the tax revenue for Layton.

Syracuse has altered the Las Vegas promotional theme to the naive, "What happens outside of Syracuse, stays outside of Syracuse." It's wishful thinking to think that Syracuse beer drinkers cross the border to Layton or Clinton, buy their goods, drink their goods, and then return to Syracuse stone sober. The talk of a "safer community" is ridiculous when consumers can drive to Layton, drink alcohol at one of numerous restaurants, then drive back to Syracuse.

While community standards are important, a viable tax base for a city should carry weight with the councilmembers. Unless the collective residents feel the "no beer" rule is worth an increase in tax dollars to support their town's infrastructure, the leaders of a city shouldn't be swayed by a few prohibition zealots who pack a council meeting. Maybe Wal-Mart will indeed bring a grocery store into Syracuse with or without beer, but the city revenue from beer sales will still be lost and most chain restaurants will not build a convenient eatery in the city unless beer is available.

Some may argue that this is a quality of life issue. They are right in the sense that not selling beer limits the amount of dollars to spend on parks, recreation, and citywide improvements.

Communities along the Wasatch Front are not separate and distinct. It's difficult to tell where one starts and where one ends. So while Syracuse may think they have a moat around their town, the only thing not crossing the city limits is tax dollars.

Beer in the supermarket will not cause an increase in alcohol-related problems or even beer consumption in Syracuse. Residents are not foregoing beer because they can't buy it in town and underage drinkers don't live in a bubble once they take up residence in town.

The only difference a change in the law would make would be that Syracuse would get a grocery store and more tax revenue.

The notion of "free agency" has strong support in our society. It should be noted that this agency allows for freedom of choice, not freedom from choice. Further, common sense should never be sacrificed on the alter of zealousness.





Raised in Davis County, Brandvold is employed in the financial industry-and proud to be a Utah Democrat.